Radiator tube



Jan. 7, 1930. HIGGlNs 1,742,392

' RADIATOR TUBE Filed April 16, 1926 Qwuentoz abtoz new Patented Jan. 7,1930 UNITED STATES PATENT oluuca CLIFFORD B. HIGGINS, OF DETROIT,MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO HARRY A. HIGGINS, OF DETROIT, MICHIGANI RADIATOR TUBE Application filed April 16, 1926. Serial No. 102,427.

This invention relates to radiator tubes and has special reference tothat type of sheet metal tube used in a radiator forming part of thecooling system of an internal combustion engine. Such radiators areextensively used in the automobile industry and ordinarily includeheaders connected by a series of tubes or water conduits through whichcirculates water adapted to be cooled by air impinging against thetubes. Fins and various types of heat disseminating members areordinarily arranged exteriorly of the tubes, but my invention hasspecial reference to the interior of the tubes.

My invention aims to provide, as an article of manufacture, a tubehaving aspiral seam therein affording an internal rib. Distinctadvantages are gained by such a rib. First, the seam whichforms the ribhas a constructive arrangement of interlocking parts by which the seammay be slightly open should there be expansion of the tube incident towater freezing therein. This chance to slight- 1y expand preventsfiexure of the metal without causing leakage at the seam. Second, thetube surface exposed to water is materially increased; third, the spiralarrangement of the seam or rib induces a spiral or rotary motion ofwater flowing through the tube whereby the water is brought intoengagement with the entire tube wall without any will probably appear asthe nature of my invention is better understood. Reference will now behad to the drawing, wherein-- Figure 1 is a front elevation of a portionof a radiator having water tubes in accordance with my invention; A

Figure 2 is anenlarged side elevation of a portion of one of thetubes;

Fig. 3 is a cross sectional View of the same; Fig. 4 is a similar'viewshowing a tube that is slightly expanded, and

F 1g. 5 is an elevation of a portion of the tube showing its spiralformation from a strip of sheet metal.

An extensively used radiator includes a frame 1 containing headers 2 and3 connected.by'water tubes or conduits 4 so that water may circulatefrom one header to the other. The tubes 4 ordinarily form part of a corethat may be of the honey comb construction by which heat may be rapidlydisseminated from the tubes and the core'construction permits of airpassing between the tubes or cirg5 culating thereabout so that the watermay be rapidly cooled.

Considering one of the tubes, as best shown in Figures 2 to 5 inclusive,a strip of metal 5 has one edge thereof inturned and bent" on itself toform a pocket or channel (i having a bottom wall 7 and opposed walls 8and 9. The opposite edge of the strip of metal is inturned to provide aflange or intermediate wall 10.

In forming the tube the flange 10 is placedin the pocket 6 and on thebottom wall 7. The flange 10 may be spot-welded, soldered, or otherwiseconnected to the walls 7 and 9 so as to be practically integraltherewith, and the purpose of this connection will be understood byreference to Figure 4,where the tube is shown in expanded condition. Theflange 10. moves with the wall 9'away from the wall 8, withoutcompletely opening the seam. This is a distinct advantage because thetube may freely expand without flexing theseam. Furthermore, thethreeply seam may be subjected to a solder bath sothat the flange 10 issecured to the walls 8 and 9 of thepocket and should there be expansionof the tube, it is obvious that the connection between the wall 8 andthe flange 10 may be broken without breaking the connection between thewall 9 and the flange 10. The seam simply expands under such conditions,but otherwise the seam is tight, as shown in Figure 3..

From the foregoing, it will be observed i that the threeply seam, incross section, is

substantially at a right angle to the inner wall of the tube, and thatit extends into the tube an appreciable distance to provide a spiralwater deflector. This deflector will cause water passng through the tubeto travel other than in a straight path, consequently the water will bebrought into engagement with all walls of the tube and may be quicklycooled thereby. The spiral rib formed by the seam not only adds rigidityto the tube, but provides an expansible joint which may partly openwithout destroying the connection of the same. This is very desirable inthin sheet metal tubes, and it is obvious that the seam may be formed asthe strip of metal is fashioned into a tube.

' One embodiment of my invention has been illustrated, but it is to beunderstood that the structural elements are susceptible to such,variations and modifications as fall within the scope of the appendedclaim.

YVhat I claim is A sheet metal tube having an inwardly extending radialpocket at one edge of the material forming the tube, said pocket beingopen at its outer end and having an internal width substantially equalto the thickness of said material, and a flange at the other end of saidmaterial and received in said pocket, said pocket and flange beingformed spirally with respect to the axis of the tube and extending aconsiderable distance into the tube.

In testimony whereof I affix my si nature.

CLIFFORD B. HIG INS.

